Up-flow separator

ABSTRACT

There are disclosed herein equipment and methods for screening and concentrating waste water overflow from combined sewer systems. Exemplary equipment includes a separator employing a substantially cylindrical rotating screen. Influent is piped upwardly into the equipment and deflected outwardly toward the inner surface of the screen in a manner to achieve a desired flow rate and flow pattern of the influent onto the screen. Means are provided for controlling the flow rate and for suitably directing the influent in a plurality of substantially discrete inclined streams toward the inner surface of the rotating screen. The screen is rotated at a speed to achieve a desired centrifugal force. Effluent passes through the screen to an outlet and the remaining concentrate passes to an outlet. The screen is in the form of a screen cage having a plurality of removable screen panels for facilitating replacement of damaged screens or changing of screen type or mesh size. Cleaning means is provided for directing a cleaning fluid periodically at the screen. The methods disclosed involve the manner in which the influent, effluent, concentrate and back-splash are handled, and the manner in which the influent is screened to achieve a fluid concentrate which is pumpable to other treatment equipment for ultimate disposal. Additionally, a sequence of influent feed and screen cleaning is described.

United States Patent 1 Westfall [I111 3,737,038 1451 June 5,1973

[ UP-FLOW SEPARATOR [75] Inventor: Theodore R. -Westlall,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: Sweco, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif. 22 Filed: June 3, 1971 l [21] Appl. No.: 149,609

Related U.S. Application um Burbank,

[63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 42,098, June 1,

i970, abandoned.

Primary Examiner-Samih N. Zaharna Assistant Examiner-F. F. Calvetti Attorney-Lyon & Lyon [5 7 1 ABSTRACT There are disclosed herein equipment and methods for screening and concentrating waste water overflow from combined sewer systems. Exemplary equipment includes a separator employing a substantially cylindrical rotating screen. lnfluent is piped upwardly into the equipment and deflected outwardly toward the inner surface of the screen in a manner to achieve a desired flow rate and flow pattern of the influent onto the screen. Means are provided for controlling the flow rate and for suitably directing the influent in a plurality of substantially discrete inclined streams toward the inner surface of the rotating screen. The screen is rotated at a speed to achieve a desired centrifugal force. Effluent passes through the screen to an outlet and the remaining concentrate passes to an outlet. The screen is in the form of a screen cage having a plurality of removable screen panels for facilitating replacement of damaged screens or changing of screen type or mesh size. Cleaning means is provided for directing a cleaning fluid periodically at the screen. The methods disclosed involve the manner in which the influent, effluent, concentrate and backsplash are handled, and the manner in which the influent'is screened to achieve a fluid concentrate which is pumpable to other treatment equipment for ultimate disposal. Additionally, a sequence of influent feed and screen cleaning is described.

19 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures Patented Jun 5; 1973 3,737,038

7 Sheets-Sheet 2 'fiaf.

INVENTOR. 77/500026 8 M55744 Patented .lur le 5, 1973 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 5, 1973 3,737,038

7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Had IXVENTOR 77/500025 R M/E5TFAZL' Patented June 5, 1913 3,737,038

'7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. 7' #6000196 ,Q WES/444 Patented June 5, 1973 3,737,038

7 Sheets-Sheet 6 UP-FLOW SEPARATOR CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 42,098 filed in the name of T. R. Westfall, June 1, 1970, now abandoned, entitled Up Flow Separator.

The concepts disclosed herein are related to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,539,008 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,511,373, both of which are assigned to the assignee of the present application and the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Briefly, said U.S. Pat. No. 3,539,008 discloses apparatus involving a rotating substantially cylindrical screen in combination with a stationary distribution means for screening an influent. The screen and distribution means may be used in combination with a downstream planar vibratory separator for further screening of the concentrate from the rotating screen. Said U.S. Pat. No. 3,511,373 discloses apparatus similar to that in said patent and is directed to means for facilitating cleaning of said rotating screen.

Reference is also made to related applications, Ser. No. 42,165, entitled Improved Wastewater Concentration, filed on June 1, 1970, in the name of Walter J. Talley, Jr.; Ser. No. 42,099, entitled Improved Rotating Screen Separator, filed on June 1, 1970, in the name of Philip H. Mook; and Ser. No. 42,100, entitled Wastewater Concentration, filed on June 1, 1970, in the names of Walter J. Talley, Jr., and Howard W. Wright, Jr.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the screening of a liquidsolids influent to achieve a desired separation of liquids and solids, and more particularly to screening of storm water, sewage or storm water overflow from combined sewer systems.

Although the present inventive concepts are useful in screening various materials, they have particular application for water pollution control and, thus, will be described in this environment and particularly for finemesh screening for primary treatment of storm water overflow from combined sewer systems. As set forth in a research report on treatment of storm water overflow entitled Rotary Vibratory Fine Screening of Combined Sewer Overflows prepared by Cornell, Howland, Hayes and Merryfield in connection with Department of the Interior Contract 14-12-128 and dated March, 1970, the majority of the existing combined sewers throughout the nation do not have adequate capacity during heavy storm periods to transport all waste and storm-caused combined flows to a treatment facility. The overflow is bypassed to a receiving stream, thus causing pollution in the nations water courses.

As further described in said report, the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration published a report in 1967 reviewing the effects and means of correcting combined sewer overflows on a national basis. Of the 200 million people residing in the United States, approximately 125 million are served by combined or separate sewer systems, and of the 125 million approximately 29 percent are served by combined sewers.

. Combined sewers are designed to receive all types of waste flows, including storm water, for ultimate treatment at a treatment facility. In determining the size of the combined sewer, it has been common engineering practice to provide capacity for three to five times the dry-weather flow. During intensive storm periods, however, the storm-caused combined flow may be two to one hundred times the dry-weather flow, making overflow conditions unavoidable. To compound the problem, most treatment facilities are not designed to handle the hydraulic load of the combined sewer and, therefore, are required to bypass a portion of the storm-caused combined flow to protect the treatment facility and treatment process from damage. The nations treatment facility bypass flows an average estimated 350 hours during the year, or about 4 percent of the total operation time. The pollutional impact of the storm-caused combined overflow on the waters of the nation has been estimated as equivalent to as much as percent of the strength of the domestic sewage biochemical oxygen demand. This amount creates a major source of pollution for the nations water courses. The Cornell et al. report further described certain tests, results and recommendations with respect to the use of high-rate fine-mesh screens for primary treatment of storm water overflow from combined sewer systems, the equipment described being similar to that disclosed in said U.S. Pat. No. 3,539,008 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,511,373. The present inventive concepts involve certain improvements thereover.

In light of the foregoing, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide improved screening equipment and methods.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved screening device employing a rotating screen and distribution means associated therewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide a screening device employing a rotating screen wherein an upward flow of influent is provided and deflected toward the inner surface of said screen.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved flow of influent to a rotating screen device.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent through a consideration of the following description and attached drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION There is disclosed herein a screening apparatus, such as for use in screening of storm water overflows from sewer systems, comprising a substantially cylindrical rotary screen device disposed for rotation within a housing, feed means for directing an influent toward the inner surface of the screen, and outlet means for receiving (a) the effluent which passes through the screen, (b) the concentrate which does not pass the screen, and (c) backsplashfrom the screen.

The feed means includes an upwardly extending feed pipe, or the like, for supplying the influent to the screen. The feed means may include adjustable deflector means for varying'the rate of flow of influent, and distribution means for directing the flow of influent as a plurality of substantially discrete inclined streams toward the inner surface of the screen.

The rotary screen is in the form of a substantially cylindrical cage and includes a plurality of screen panels, which may be removed for repair, cleaning or replacement with different mesh screens or different screen cloth. The speed of rotation of the screen is selected to provide a desired centrifugal force, or g-loading, of influent on the screen, the g-loading being a function of tributor a typical flow velocity is approximately to feet per second to each distributor, and an exemplary preferred screen speed is approximately 60 rpm for a 60 inch diameter screen. It is to be appreciated that other suitable flow velocities, screen speeds, diameters, number of distributors, and the like may be employed without departing from the present concepts. The influent preferably is screened to achieve a relatively fluid concentrate, as distinguished from a dry concentrate, so that the same may be readily transported or pumped for further treatment or disposal.

A screen cleaning apparatus is provided for spraying cleaning fluid through the screen at desired intervals. In the screening of an influent, it is preferable to cyclically (a) feed the influent for a predetermined period of time, (b) terminate the feed, (c) spray the screen with a cleaning fluid for a shorter predetermined period, and (d) return the feed of influent. An exemplary cycle includes feeding influent for 4% minutes and cleaning the screen for one-half minute, including a cleaning spray from outside to inside of the screen for a few seconds and then inside to outside of the screen for a few seconds.

Although a complete screening apparatus and methods involving a number of novel concepts and structures are disclosed herein, this application is particularly directed to an improved rotating screen separator having an upward flow of influent into the apparatus and wherein said influent is directed in a particular manner onto distribution means and from the latter to the inner surface of said screen; whereas said other applications noted above are directed to other novel features disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a cross-sectional elevational view of a preferred screening apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a crosssectional view of the apparatus taken along a line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 40 and 4b are cross-sectional views illustrating an adjustable influent deflector of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a distribution dome of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6a is a top view and FIGS. 6b and 6c are fragmentary cross-sectional views of the distributor of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a rotary screen cage of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a partial top view of the screen of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9a and 9b are views illustrating the manner in which screen panels are secured to the screen cage of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 illustrates a portion of a double distributor apparatus; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the deflector for the lower distributor of the apparatus of FIG. I0.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 through 3, a rotary screening device is illustrated including an outer substantially cylindrical housing 10 containing a rotary screen cage 11, an influent inlet feed pipe 12, an influent impingement deflector or diverter 13, a drive assembly 14 for the screen cage 11, an effluent outlet 15, a concentrate outlet 16, and a backsplash outlet 17. It should be noted at this point that FIG. 1 is an elevational cross section view taken along a line 1-1 of FIG. 3; whereas, FIG. 3 is a crosssectional plan view taken generally along a line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

As will be more fully explained subsequently, an influent, such as storm water overflow having enormous amounts of water and relatively little solids, is fed to the feed pipe 12 and deflected outwardly by the deflector 13 onto a distributor 18 and toward the inside of the rotating screen cage 11. The screen cage includes a plurality of screen panels, and the influent is screened resulting in a highly liquid effluent and a concentrate which is substantially less liquid but flowable. The effluent is discharged by outlet 15 and the concentrate is discharged by outlet 16. The screen cage 11 is rotated at a speed to provide a suitable centrifugal force for the screening action, and the deflector 13 is positioned to provide the desired flow rate of influent toward the screen cage. The distributor l8 directs'the influent as a plurality of substantially discrete inclined flows'toward the inner surface of the screen cage. Influent which splashes back from the inner surface of the screen cage may be redirected to the cage for more complete screening, 'as by collecting the backsplash and recycling the same with incoming influent. The upflow of influent provided by the feed pipe 12 simplifies the design and construction of the apparatus and generally involves less fluid head loss than encountered with a feed of influent to the screen cage from above the apparatus; however, this construction presents difficulties of proper feed of influent onto the distributor, but this is solved by the deflector-distributor arrangement de scribed herein.

These screening concepts serve to reduce pollution caused, for example, by overflow of combined stormsanitary sewage systems during periods of heavy rain fall. As much as one-thirdof the sewage solids settle to the bottom of large combined sewers and in periods ofheavy rain, they flow into streams, lakes, rivers and costal waters without treatment. Thus, during storm peaks, up to percent of the untreated sanitary sewage may overflow into receiving waters. As a result, combined treatment systems often loose more pollutants to their rivers and streams than they take out in the treatment plant itself.

As will appear from the following description and drawings, the present apparatus and concepts meet many storm-sanitary pollution control requirements for a compact, low cost, high volume, primary treatment system. The present apparatus is capable of releaving a combined sewage system of its hydraulic overload during storm periods, while sending a pollutant concentrate to the treatment plant. Exemplary apparatus is approximately 7 feet in diameter and 6 feet high and employs approximately nine to 18 removable screen panels on a revolving screen cage. A combination of influent flow velocity and centrifugal force can allow approximately 90 to 95 percent of a hydraulic flow of 3 to 4 million gallons per day to pass through the screens. The remaining concentrate containing a high percentage, such as 99 percent, of the floatable and settleable solids is discharged separately into the hydraulically relieved sewage system.

Considering the construction of the apparatus in more detail, the housing includes a base 20, a substantially cylindrical upstanding wall 21, and covers 22 and 23 to provide a substantially closed container. The screen drive assembly is secured to the top of the apparatus and includes a mounting plate 24 for supporting a motor, only the base 25 thereof being seen in the drawings, and a gear box 26. Suitable support and spacing plates 27 through 29 are provided to which an I- beam 30 with gussets 31 and 32 are secured to form a bearing mount. A pair of bearings 33 and 34 are secured to the bearing mount. A shaft 35 is journaled in the bearings 33 and 34 and has a drive pulley 36 affixed at the upper end thereof. A pulley 37, as seen in FIG. 2, is coupled with the output shaft of the gear box 26, and the pulleys 36 and 37 are coupled by means of V- belts 40 and 41. An idler 42 may be provided to maintain proper belt tension. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the motor is coupled with the input shaft of the gear box 26 in any suitable manner, as by V-belts, and drives the shaft 35 through the bear box, pulleys 37 and 36, and the V-belts 40 and 41. A collar 43 is secured, as by welding, to the lower end of the shaft 35, and the screen cage 11 is attached to this collar to enable the shaft 35 to rotate the screen cage 11.

The wall 21 of the housing 10 extends upwardly as indicated at 44. The cover 22 may be a lift-off cover, and includes windows 45 as seen in FIG. 2 to enable observation of the interior of the apparatus. A removable access door cover 46 may be provided. The wall 21 of the housing 10 may include a window 47 for observation of the interior of the apparatus. Suitable bracing is provided within the housing for structural purposes and for firmly supporting the various pipes. An angle bracket 48 and braces 49, for example, are provided as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3.

The screen cage 11 will be described in more detail subsequently, but generally includes a cage formed of a lower angle ring 50, an upper bar ring 51, and a plurality of upstanding bars 52 extending between the angle ring 50 and bar ring 51 as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. Nine bars 52 have been used for an exemplary cage approximately 36 inches in diameter. Support ribs 53 are connected between the various bars 52 and a central collar 54 which is secured to the collar 43 affixed to the shaft 35. Removable screen panels 56 having a frame and screening material of metal or cloth secured thereto are inserted between the vertical bars 52 and clamped thereto in a substantially sealed relationshi is noted earlier, an influent to be screened is supplied through the influent pipe 12 and directed upwardly toward the deflector 13. This deflects the flow downwardly onto the distributor and from there it is fed outwardly toward the inner surface of the screen panels 56 of the screen cage 11. The vertical position of the deflector 13 is adjustable as will be explained subsequently so as to control the rate of flow of influent. The distributor dome 18, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, is

secured to the upper end of the pipe 12. This distributor 18 includes a sleeve 60 which rests on a collar 61 affixed to the pipe 12, and a plurality of overlapping inclined plates 62 secured to the outer surface of the sleeve 60. A portion 63 of each plate may be bent upwardly as shown in FIG. 5, or separate spacers may form the portions 63, and secured to the underside of .the next succeeding plate so as to form a rigid structure. The distributor 18 functions to direct influent, which has been deflected downwardly by the deflector 13, into substantially inclined streams toward the inner surface of the screen panels.

An interior wall or divider 66 which is substantially cylindrical is secured within the housing and extends almost up to the horizontal surface of the flange of the angle ring 50. This divider forms, in combination with the housing wall 21, an annular chamber 67 for receiving effluent and directing the same to the effluent outlet 15. The effluent, as is known to those skilled in the art, is the material which passes through the screen cage 11. The divider 66 also encloses a concentrate chamber or bowl 68 which has an inclined bottom 69 for directing concentrate to the concentrate outlet 16.

The deflector 13 has a substantially perpendicular outer lip 13a. This deflector deflects the influent down onto the inclined plates and under the overlapped portions thereof in the area 62a as indicated in FIG. 5. Because of the overlap of the plates 62 and the configuration of the deflector 13 the influent is properly layeddown on the plates 62 and the resulting flows toward the screen are inclined and overlapped. This provides a desired laminar flow of influent streams toward the screen. Also, the total impingement of streams on the screen covers a linear area substantially greater than 360 as a result of the overlap of the plates 62 and proper feed onto the plates.

A back-splash pan 71 may be positioned within the chamber 68 and coupled with a support 72. The pipe 17 communicates with the interior of the pan 71. The top of the pan 71 is approximately at the elevation of the bottom of the screen panels and the radius of the upper portion of the pan 71 is slightly smaller than the interior diameter of the screen cage 11 so as to receive influent which splashes back from the inner surface of the screen cage 11 and screen panels 56. The radius of the pan 71 typically may be about 2 inches less than the radius of the screen cage 11. Concentrate flows through the gap between the interior of the cage and.

the exterior of the pan 71 to the chamber 68.

The purpose of the back-splash pan 71 is to enable any influent which splashes from the screen cage 11 to be collected for either recycling with incoming influent or sent to another separator device for screening to ensure that the maximum desired split between effluent and concentrate is achieved. Alternatively, other methods of collecting back-splash may be provided, as for example a baffle below the distribution dome 18 which catches or otherwise deflects the back-splash material back toward the inner surface of the screen panels at the lower portion of the screen cage 11. In a test with a 2200 gallon per minute influent flow with no screen panels in the screen cage, it was found that 46 gallons of concentrate was collected in the concentrate chamber 68. It is believed that this occurred because of back-splash from the screen cage bars 52. By recycling or further screening of this 46 gallons of back-splash in a normal operation with screens it has been computed that the split would be improved by 2 percent or better.

Turning again to the influent deflector 13, the same is adjustable up and down as noted earlier. The purpose of this adjustment is to enable control of an orifice area 75 between the lower surface of the deflector 13 and upper end of the sleeve 60 of the distributor 18, or upper end of the pipe 12 in the event the same extends above the sleeve 60. This allows control of the rate of flow of influent. The deflector 13 is secured to a rod 76 which extends upwardly through the shaft 35 as seen in FIGS. 1 and a and 4b. The upper end of the rod 76 is threaded into a threaded bushing 77 which is secured to the upper end of the shaft 35. The rod 76 thus may be adjusted up or down to vary the position of the deflector 13 with respect to the upper end of the sleeve 60, and may be locked in position by a locknut 78. With the construction thus described, the deflector 13 rotates with the screen cage 11, but may be made stationary if desired by other suitable supporting structure.

It is desired that the flows of influent toward the inner surface of the screen cage 11 be substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the screen panel 56 rather than significantly inclined upwardly or downwardly as viewed in FIG. 1. If these flows are sharply inclined downwardly, the concentrate is excessively liquid; but, on the other hand, if the flows are precisely horizontal and thus perpendicular to the inner surface of the screen panels the flows do not fan out" suffrciently to give a wide sweeping flow onto the inner surface of the screen panels. Accordingly, it is desired that the flow of influent be almost perpendicular to the inner surface of the screen panels but at a slight downward angle to obtain a divergent flow, or fan-out of the flow, by the time the influent hits the screen panels. Each flow of influent should fan out to anywhere from substantially the entire height of the screen panels to approximately one-half the height of the screen panels, or slightly less such as to provide an impingement area of influent onto the screen panels about 6 inches high. Thus, it is desired that the flows fan out slightly, but still flow substantially horizontally from the orifice 75, the fanning out being accomplished by the distributor 18 into essentially discrete inclined streams. If only a portion of the height of the screen panels is swept by the influent flows, the panels can be turned over end-forend after a period of use to maximize screen life.

As noted earlier, the majority of the existing combined sewers throughout the nation do not have adequate capacity during heavy storm periods to transport all waste and storm-caused combined flows to a treatment facility. The overflow is bypassed to a receiving stream, thus causing pollution problems. One of the principal applications of the present apparatus is in screening enormous amounts of water with solids, such as storm overflow, to separate out the solids and provide a relatively fluid, as distinguished from dry, concentrate which can then be properly handled by a sewage treatment facility. The effluent can be suitably disposed of, as for example in a stream. In this manner, the

enormous amounts of water do not overtax the sewage treatment facility, while still enabling proper treatment of the maximum amount of solids from the overflow.

One of the principal objectives is to achieve a high split, that is, ratio of effluent (screened product) to concentrate (unscreened product), while still obtaining a slightly fluid concentrate which can flow continuously from the apparatus and be supplied, as by pumping, to subsequent primary treatment equipment without the problems involved in handling a solids concentrate. A typical ratio is better than 95 to 5 with the apparatus described herein and with a typical influent flow of about 1000 gallons per minute. This can be increased, for example, to 90 to 10 with an influent flow of about 2500 gallons per minute by employing a double distributor as described subsequently.

A number of factors affect this split, one 'of the principal factors being the centrifugal force involved in the screening operation, which varies as the square of the screen cage rpm and as a direct function of the radius thereof. There is a band of optimum performance in terms of centrifugal force. It has been found that a centrifugal force of around 3 gs appear to be optimum in achieving the maximum split, although it is to be understood that the force can be below or above this value somewhat. This approximate force or band around 3 gs can be obtained with a screen cage speed of approximately 65 rpm for a screen cage about 60 inches in diameter, and approximately 88 rpm for a screen cage about 36 inches in diameter. Substantially higher speeds do not improve the split. Additionally other factors are important in achieving the maximum split, and these include the velocity of the feed of influent, such as approximately 13 to 15 feet per second with a single distributor and 5 to 10 feet per second with a double distributor, which velocity can be selected by varying the size of the feed orifice through adjustment of the deflector l3 (and both orifices for a double distributor); directing of the flows of influent substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the screen cage as noted earlier; recycling or other screening of backsplash from the screen cage; maintaining the screen panels clean; and the orientation of the screen cloth in the screen panels.

The centrifugal force is important in achieving the maximum force on the solid and water particles for separation of the water from the solids, but must not be excessive because the solids will then tend to cling to the screen and blind or clog the screen and, additionally, screen damage may result from high forces. At the optimum force or band of force, the concentrate flows by gravity down from the screen. The provision of almost perpendicular influent flow to the inner surface of the screen is important as noted earlier so as to achieve the maximum separation with the minimum of back-splash or other deflection of influent from the screen cage. As to flow velocity, if the same is too low, insufficient influent reaches the screen. If too high, excessive backsplash occurs, and the high forces may cause premature damage to the screens. The back-splash represents unscreened influent, much of which is believed to be deflected from the bars 52 of the screen cage, and it is desired to recycle or otherwise further screen the backsplash to optimize the split. It will be apparent that the screen panels must be clean to achieve the best screening action, and a cycle of influent feed and spray cleaning with a cleaning fluid is preferred as will be described subsequently.

The orientation of the screen cloth within the cage is important from a wear-life standpoint. It is preferable that the screen cloth be bias mounted to form the screen panels 56 of FIG. 7 rather than positioning the cloth such that the wires or thread of the screen cloth run vertically and horizontally. The bias mounting disposes the wires or thread at substantially 45 angles resulting in better screen life because the screen wires are stressed and flexed equally and uniformly by the flows of influent. This longer life allows the screen cage to run longer with less down-time therefore improving the efflciency of screening. Also, the slope of the inclined plates 62 of the distributor dome 18 affects the height to which the flows impinge on the screen panels and, thus affects screen life. A 6 inch drop at the edge of the plate where the radial length of the plate is 28 inches gives a slope of 21 percent which has been found suitable for a 60 inch diameter cage.

Furthermore, it is believed that the direction of rotation of the screen cage with respect to the inclination of the plates 62 of the distributor 18 may contribute to obtaining the most efficient screening operation. The direction of rotation of the screen cage 11 is preferably as indicated with respect to the screen panel 56 illustrated in FIG. (counter clockwise) and as illustrated with respect to the screen cage in FIG. 8. Referring again to FIG. 5, the flows of influent leave the inclined plates 62 of the, distributor 60 at substantially the angle of the plates 62 and continuously aid in sweeping large solid particles from the rotating screen.

Screen cleaning is achieved by means of supply pipes 80 and 81 having respective groups of nozzles 82 and 83. The nozzles 82 and 83 provide sprays of cleaning fluid through the screen panels. It is preferred to feed influent for a period of time, such as 4% minutes to 5 minutes, stop the flow of influent and spray the screen panels with a cleaning fluid such as hot water containing a hypochlorite solution for one-fourth to one minute and then continue to feed the influent. This operation continues cyclically, with the cleaning period lasting, for example, one-half minute, with a spray from the nozzles 82 for seconds and then from the nozzles 82 for seconds. It is desired to clean the screens before they get dirty which can be measured in terms of degradation of the split, for example, down to 90-to-l0.

Turning again to the screen cage, and particularly FIGS. 7 through 9, preferably the screen panels 56 are removable for repair or replacement, and can be readily locked in place in the screen cage. Channels for receiving the edges of the screen panels 56 are provided by T-brackets 85 which are secured to the bars 52 by threaded stubs 86 and 87 and respective wing nuts 88 and 89. Braces 91 are secured between adjacent ribs 53, and a gasket 92 is affixed onto each brace 91 to form a seal with the top of each respective screen panel 56. The edges of the frame 93 of the screen panel 56 which abut with the bars 52 may have a bead of resilient material 94 thereon to form a seal between the screen panels and bars 52. The panel includes an angle frame and the screen fabric may be secured thereto with an epoxy adhesive. Exemplary screen fabric is I65 TBC providing 47 percent open area. Metal or synthetic fabrics can be used. Stainless steel fabric has been found suitable. A removable cover 95 having a removable section 96 may be provided for the top of the screen cage.

A vent pipe 97 may be provided to vent the interior of the housing 10 to the atmosphere. A plate 98 is attached to the shaft 35 above the cover portions 22 and 23 of the housing. Operation of the screening apparatus causes a higher pressure area toward the periphery of the screen cage 11, and air is drawn in between the plate 98 and cover portions 22-23 and vented by the vent pipe 97. This flow of air past the plate 98 aids in maintaining the bearings 33 and 34 clean and moisture free. The plate 98 prevents material from splashing on to the bearings from the cover portions 22-23 where the shaft 35 extends therethrough.

Exemplary test data from the screening of influent by apparatus like that described and illustrated and employing what is referred to as a 36 inch screen cage, the actual inside diameter defined by the inner surface of the screen panels being approximately thirty inches, are set forth in Tables in said application Ser. No. 42,099.

FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative double distributor 18. This particular alternative construction is more fully described in patent application Ser. No. 126,080 tiled in the name of Walter J. Talley, Jr., entitled WASTEWATER CONCENTRATOR WITH PLU- RAL DISTRIBUTORS on or about Mar. 19, 1971, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In this arrangement, two distributors 113 and 114, each like the distributor 18 of FIG. 5 are employed. The feed pipe 12 includes, in this instance, an inlet pipe 119 and a smaller coaxially mounted pipe 120. Deflectors or diverters 121 and 122 are provided for respectively deflecting influent from the pipe 119 to the distributor 113 and from the pipe to the distributor 114. The deflector 122 is constructed as illustrated in FIG. 4b, and the deflector 121 is constructed asillustrated in FIG. 11.

The screen cage 111 is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 7, but preferably includes an upper row of square screen panels 152 and a lower row of similar screen panels 153 secured within a screen cage constructed in a manner similar to that previously described.

The lower distributor 113 is secured in a suitable manner to the upper end of the pipe 119. This distributor 113 may include a central sleeve secured, as by welding, to the pipe 119, and includes a plurality of inclined plates 162 secured to the outer surface of the sleeve 160, the plates 162 being the same as the plates 62 in FIG. 5. The upper distributor 114 may be constructed in a similar manner of a central sleeve, which may be formed by the pipe 120, and a plurality of inclined plates 164 secured to the outer surface of the pipe 120. A portion of each plate 164 may be bent upwardly in the same manner as the plates 62 and 162 and secured to the under side of the next succeeding plate as shown in FIG. 5 to form a rigid structure as is the case with the distributor 113. The. upper distributor 114 may be secured in any suitable manner, such as by means of vertical spacer rods 166 as seen in FIG. 10, or, alternatively, the pipes 119 and 120 may be secured together as by gussets, so as to form a rigid structure of the two distributors 133 and 114. If desired, the spacers 166 may be threaded to enable adjustment of the spacing between the two distributors 113 and 114.

The lower deflector 121 may be coupled to the pipe 120, as best seen in FIG. 11, by means of a flange 168 affixed to the periphery of the pipe 120 and bolts 169. This arrangement allows adjustment of the position of the deflector 121 with respect to the upper end of the pipe 119, and thus adjustment of the rate of flow of influent to the lower distributor l 14. The upper deflector 120 is secured to a rod 170 in the same manner illustrated in FIG. 4b. Both of the deflectors 121 and 122 have respective downwardly extending lips 174 and 175 of the nature illustrated at 13a in FIG. 4b for providing proper deflection of the influent downwardly onto the distributors 113 and 114.

The deflectors 121 and 122 are adjustable up and down as noted earlier. The purpose of this adjustment is to enable control of orifice areas between the deflectors and the respective feed pipes. A partial detailed view of this deflector 121 is shown in FIG. 11, and the same includes an inverted frusto-conical member 187 which acts, in combination with the top edge of the pipe 119, to form an adjustable orifice area 185. Similarly, an orifice area 186 as seen in FIG. between the lower surface of the deflector 122 and the upper end of the pipe 120 can be controlled or varied. This arrangement allows control of the split of influent between the two distributors 113 and 114 as well as control of the rate of flow of influent toward the screen panels. The deflectors 121 and 122, as well as the deflector 13, may have other shapes, such as a segment of a sphere. However, it is desired that the flows of influent toward the inner surface of the screen cage from distributors 113 and 114 be substantially perpendicular (as viewed in FIG. 10) to the inner surface of the screen panels rather than significantly inclined upwardly or downwardly as explained earlier in connection with the single distributor embodiment. Exemplary test data for a double distributor apparatus is set forth in the said Talley application referred to earlier filed on or about Mar. 19, 1971. The exemplary apparatus employs a 14 inch pipe 119, 10 inch diameter pipe 120, approximately 17% inch diameter deflectors 121 and 122, approximately 10% inch square panels 152 and 153, and an approximately 9% inch spacing between the distributors 113 and 114 at the center aperture thereof.

The present embodiments of this invention are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims therefore are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A screening device comprising a rotary substantially cylindrical screen structure,

drive means coupled with said screen structure for rotating said screen structure and located above said screen structure,

distribution means including a plurality of overlapping inclined plates positioned within said screen structure for receiving liquid and directing said liquid as a plurality of inclined streams toward the inner surface of said structure, and

feed means for feeding said liquid from below said distribution means and deflecting the liquid onto the top of said distribution means thereby causing a substantially uniform radial flow towards said rotating screen structure, said feed means including pipe means for conveying said liquid up to the top of said distribution means and including deflector means for deflecting said liquid downwardly and outwardly onto said distribution means for causing screening of said liquid into an effluent and concentrate.

2. A screening device as in claim 1 wherein said deflector means includes an outer depending lip for defleeting said liquid onto said inclined plates.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said pipe means comprises a substantially vertically disposed feed pipe and said deflector means comprises a deflector positioned above the upper end of said feed pipe for deflecting said liquid emanating from said feed pipe downwardly and onto the top of said distribution means.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of inclined plates extending outwardly from said feed means, said plates being overlapped with one another to provide a plurality of essentially overlapped and inclined flows of liquid toward the inner surface of said screen structure.

5; Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said pipe means comprises a substantially vertically disposed feed pipe extending upwardly to said distribution means and said deflector means comprises a deflector positioned above the upper end of said feed pipe for deflecting said liquid emanating from said feed pipe downwardly and onto the top of said distribution means for causing said liquid to impinge substantially perpendicular on the inner surface of said screen structure.

6. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said deflector means includes an operating surface which is concave to positively direct the incoming liquid at said overlapping plates.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said operating surface directs the incoming liquid toward the innermost section of said overlapping plates.

8. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said deflector includes an outer depending lip for directing the liquid onto said overlapping plates.

9. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said distribution means includes multiple layers of overlapping inclined plates, and said deflector means includes a plurality of deflectors, each of said plurality of deflectors being operatively associated with a respective one of said multiple layers of overlapping inclined plates and having an outer depending lip for directing the liquid onto said inclined plates.

10. Screening apparatus comprising support means,

rotary substantially cylindrical screening means supported by said support means,

drive means coupled with said screening means for rotating said screening means and located above said screening means,

distribution means positioned within said screening means for receiving liquid and directing said liquid toward the inner surface of said screening means, said distribution means including a plurality of outwardly extending inclined plates, said plates being overlapped with one another to provide a plurality of essentially overlapped and inclined flows of liquid thereby providing a total linear impingement area of greater than 360 toward the inner surface of said screening means, and means for feeding liquid to said distribution means.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said feeding means directs the liquid at the innermost section of said overlapping plates.

12. A method of screening an influent including substantial amounts of liquid and relatively few solids, such as storm water overflow and the like, employing rotating substantially cylindrical screen structure comprising flowing said influent upwardly to within said screen structure, deflecting the influent downwardly and outwardly to cause a substantially uniform flow toward the inner surface of the rotating screen structure, and

causing said influent to form into a plurality of essentially overlapped inclined streams thereby providing a total linear impingement area of greater than 360 and directing said streams to impinge substantially perpendicular on the inner surface of said screen structure to screen said influent and derive an effluent and a concentrate with a minimum of deflection of influent from the inner surface of said screen structure.

13. In a screening device including a substantially cylindrical screen structure and distribution means positioned within said screen structure for receiving liquid from feed means and directing said liquid as a plurality of streams toward the inner surface of said screen structure, and drive means for imparting relative rotation between said screen structure and said distribution means, the improvement comprising said distribution means comprising a plurality of inclined plates extending outwardly from said feed means, said plates being overlapped with one another to provide a plurality of essentially overlapped and inclined flows of liquid toward the inner surface of said screen structure, and

deflector means positioned above'the upper end of said feed means for deflecting said liquid emanating from said feed means downwardly and onto said inclined plates of said distribution means, said deflector means including a central portion disposed above the upper end of said feed means and an outer downwardly-extending peripheral portion for causing said deflection of said liquid.

14. A screening device comprising a rotary substantially cylindrical screen structure, drive means coupled with said screen structure and located above said screen structure, distribution means positioned within said screen structure for receiving liquid and directing said liquid as a plurality of inclined streams toward the inner surface of said structure, feed means for feeding said liquid from below said distribution means and deflecting the liquid onto the top of said distribution means thereby causing a substantially uniform radial flow towards said rotating screen structure, said feed means including pipe means for conveying said liquid up to the top of said distribution means and including deflector means for deflecting said liquid downwardly and outwardly and onto said distribution means for causing screening of said liquid into an effluent and concentrate, said pipe means comprises a substantially vertically disposed feed pipe and said deflector means comprises a deflector positioned above the upper end of said feed pipe for deflecting said liquid emanating from said pipe downwardly and onto the top of said distribution means, and said deflector has an operating surface which is concaved to positively direct the incoming liquid toward said distribution means.

15. A screening device comprising a rotary substantially cylindrical screen structure, drive means coupled with said screen structure for rotating said screen structure and located above said screen structure, distribution means positioned within said screen structure for receiving liquid and directing said liquid as a plurality of inclined streams toward the inner surface of said structure, feed means for feeding said liquid from below said distribution means and deflecting the liquid onto the top of said distribution means thereby causing a substantially uniform radial flow towards said rotating screen structure, said feed means including pipe means for conveying said liquid up to the top of said distribution means and including deflector means for deflecting said liquid downwardly and outwardly onto said distribution means for causing screening of said liquid into an effluent and concentrate, said pipe means comprises a substantially vertically disposed feed pipe and said deflector means comprises a deflector positioned above the upper end of said feed pipe for deflecting said liquid emanating from said feed pipe downwardly and onto the top of said distribution means, and said deflector includes an outer depending lip for directing the liquid onto said distribution means. 16. Screening apparatus comprising support means, rotary substantially cylindrical screening means supported by said support means, drive means coupled with said screen'means for rotating said screen means and located above said screen means, distribution means including a plurality of overlapping inclined plates positioned within said screen means for receiving influent and directing said influent as a plurality of inclined streams toward the inner surface of said screen means, and feed means for feeding said influent from below said distribution means and deflecting the influent onto the top of said distribution means thereby causing a substantially uniform radial flow toward said screen means, said feed means including pipe means for conveying said influent up to the top of said distribution means and including deflector means for deflecting said influent downwardly and outwardly onto said distribution means for causing screening of said influent by said screening means into an effluent and concentrate, said deflector means and distribution means causing said influent to impinge substantially perpendicular upon the inner surface of said screening means. 17. Apparatus as in claim 16 wherein the deflector means of said feed means forms a substantially annular orifice through which said influent is conveyed onto said distribution means. 18. Apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said distribution means comprises a plurality of inclined plates extending outwardly from said feed means, said plates being overlapped with one another to provide a plurality of essentially overlapped and inclined flows of fluid toward the inner surface of said screening means. I 19. Apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said deflector means is substantially in the form of a plate having a down-turned peripheral lip for deflecting said influent onto the inclined plates of said distribution means.

t l 4 I 

2. A screening device as in claim 1 wherein said deflector means includes an outer depending lip for deflecting said liquid onto said inclined plates.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said pipe means comprises a substantially vertically disposed feed pipe and said deflector means comprises a deflector positioned above the upper end of said feed pipe for deflecting said liquid emanating from said feed pipe downwardly and onto the top of said distribution means.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of inclined plates extending outwardly from said feed means, said plates being overlapped with one another to provide a plurality of essentially overlapped and inclined flows of liquid toward the inner surface of said screen structure.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said pipe means comprises a substantially vertically disposed feed pipe extending upwardly to said distribution means and said deflector means comprises a deflector positioned above the upper end of said feed pipe for deflecting said liquid emanating from said feed pipe downwardly and onto the top of said distribution means for causing said liquid to impinge substantially perpendicular on the inner surface of said screen structure.
 6. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said deflector means includes an operating surface which is concave to positively direct the incoming liquid at said overlapping plates.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said operating surface directs the incoming liquid toward the innermost section of said overlapping plates.
 8. Apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said deflector includes an outer depending lip for directing the liquid onto said overlapping plates.
 9. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said distribution means includes multiple layers of overlapping inclined plates, and said deflector means includes a plurality of deflectors, each of said plurality of deflectors being operatively associated with a respective one of said multiple layers of overlapping inclined plates and having an outer depending lip for directing the liquid onto said inclined plates.
 10. Screening apparatus comprising support means, rotary substantially cylindrical screening means supported by said support means, drive means coupled with said screening means for rotating said screening means and located above said screening means, distribution means positioned within said screening means for receiving liquid and directing said liquid toward the inner surface of said screening means, said distribution means including a plurality of outwardly extending inclined plates, said plates being overlapped with one another to provide a plurality of essentially overlapped and inclined flows of liquid thereby providing a total linear impingement area of greater than 360* toward the inner surface of said screening means, and means for feeding liquid to said distribution means.
 11. Apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said feeding means directs the liquid at the innermost section of said overlapping plates.
 12. A method of screening an influent including substantial amounts of liquid and relatively few solids, such as storm water overflow and the like, employing rotating substantially cylindrical screen structure comprising flowing said influent upwardly to within said screen structure, deflecting the influent downwardly and outwardly to cause a substantially uniform flow toward the inner surface of the rotating screen structure, and causing said influent to form into a plurality of essentially overlapped inclined streams thereby providing a total linear impingement area of greater than 360* and directing said streams to impinge substantially perpendicular on the inner surface of said screen structure to screen said influent and derive an effluent and a concentrate with a minimum of deflection of influent from the inner surface of said screen structure.
 13. In a screening device including a substantially cylindrical screen structure and distribution means positioned within said screen structure for receiving liquid from feed means and directing said liquid as a plurality of streams toward the inner surface of said screen structure, and drive means for imparting relative rotation between said screen structure and said distribution means, the improvement comprising said distribution means comprising a plurality of inclined plates extending outwardly from said feed means, said plates being overlapped with one another to provide a plurality of essentially overlapped and inclined flows of liquid toward the inner surface of said screen structure, and deflector means positioned above the upper end of said feed means for deflecting said liquid emanating from said feed means downwardly and onto said inclined plates of said distribution means, said deflector means including a central portion disposed above the upper end of said feed means and an outer downwardly-extending peripheral portion for causing said deflection of said liquid.
 14. A screening device comprising a rotary substantially cylindrical screen structure, drive means coupled with said screen structure and located above said screen structure, distribution means positioned within said screen structure for receiving liquid and directing said liquid as a plurality of inclined streams toward the inner surface of said structure, feed means for feeding said liquid from below said distribution means and deflecting the liquid onto the top of said distribution means thereby causing a substantially uniform radial flow towards said rotating screen structure, said feed means including pipe means for conveying said liquid up to the top of said distribution means and including deflector means for deflecting said liquid downwardly and outwardly and onto said distribution means for causing screening of said liquid into an effluent and concentrate, said pipe means comprises a substantially vertically disposed feed pipe and said deflector means comprises a deflector positioned above the upper end of said feed pipe for deflecting said liquid emanating from said pipe downwardly and onto the top of said distribution means, and said deflector has an operating surface which is concaved to positively direct the incoming liquid toward said distribution means.
 15. A screening device comprising a rotary substantially cylindrical screen structure, drive means coupled with said screen structure for rotating said screen structure and located above said screen structure, distribution means positioned within said screen structure for receiving liquid and directing said liquid as a plurality of inclined streams toward the inner surface of said structure, feed means for feeding said liquid from below said distribution means and deflecting the liquid onto the top of said distribution means thereby causing a substantially uniform radial flow towards said rotating screen structure, said feed means including pipe means for conveying said liquid up to the top of said distribution means and including deflector means for deflecting said liquid downwardly and outwardly onto said distribution means for causing screening of said liquid into an effluent and concentrate, said pipe means comprises a substantially vertically disposed feed pipe and said deflector means comprises a deflector positioned above The upper end of said feed pipe for deflecting said liquid emanating from said feed pipe downwardly and onto the top of said distribution means, and said deflector includes an outer depending lip for directing the liquid onto said distribution means.
 16. Screening apparatus comprising support means, rotary substantially cylindrical screening means supported by said support means, drive means coupled with said screen means for rotating said screen means and located above said screen means, distribution means including a plurality of overlapping inclined plates positioned within said screen means for receiving influent and directing said influent as a plurality of inclined streams toward the inner surface of said screen means, and feed means for feeding said influent from below said distribution means and deflecting the influent onto the top of said distribution means thereby causing a substantially uniform radial flow toward said screen means, said feed means including pipe means for conveying said influent up to the top of said distribution means and including deflector means for deflecting said influent downwardly and outwardly onto said distribution means for causing screening of said influent by said screening means into an effluent and concentrate, said deflector means and distribution means causing said influent to impinge substantially perpendicular upon the inner surface of said screening means.
 17. Apparatus as in claim 16 wherein the deflector means of said feed means forms a substantially annular orifice through which said influent is conveyed onto said distribution means.
 18. Apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said distribution means comprises a plurality of inclined plates extending outwardly from said feed means, said plates being overlapped with one another to provide a plurality of essentially overlapped and inclined flows of fluid toward the inner surface of said screening means.
 19. Apparatus as in claim 18 wherein said deflector means is substantially in the form of a plate having a down-turned peripheral lip for deflecting said influent onto the inclined plates of said distribution means. 